Vintage Guitars

1959 Kay 1701S Kessel Pro

The Chronologue
Year1959ColorSunburst
BirthplaceChicago, IllinoisFactory OptionsN/A
ManufacturerKay Musical Instrument CompanyCase Mfd.Lifton
ModelK1701S Kessel ProCase ExteriorBeige Vinyl, Excelsior Hardware Four Latches, One Locking w/ Key
Serial #1309Case InteriorPlush Red Felt, Neck Pocket
Serial # LocationBrass Plate, 2-rivets to Back of PegheadCase ExtrasGuitar Cable and Vintage Large Triangle Tortoise Pick
Original Price$170.00 Notes:Body Stamp L2967 1701
Specifications
Overall
TypeSemi-Hollow Single Pickup Electric GuitarBody Length18 1/16″
Weight5lb 10.5ozBody Depth2 3/4″
Scale24 1/4″Upper Bout Width10 1/8″
# Of Strings6Waist Bout Width8 3/8″
Total Length38 7/8″Lower Bout Width13
Construction
Body
Body TypeFully Arched, Single Cutaway, Right HandedBody BindingN/A
TopMaple Laminatef-hole BindingN/A
BackMaple LaminateBracing2 Maple Tone Bars to Top, Full Length
SidesMaple LaminateFinishNitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck
Neck DetailMaple & Ebony Bonded “Speed Demon”Side MarkerN/A
Neck ProfileCNutWhite Plastic
Neck Depth.936″ 1st Fret, 1.238″ 12th FretNut Width1 5/8″
Neck AttachmentSet12th Fret Width2 1/8″
Neck Heel CapWhite Celluloid Truss Adj AccessTrussSteel Rod
FingerboardBrazilian RosewoodTruss AdjustmentNeck Heel, 1/4″ Nut
Fingerboard Radius10″Truss Adj. CoverN/A
Fingerboard BindingWhite Celluloid Fully BoundPeghead ProfileKay Kelvinator
Frets.080″ Nickle SilverPeghead VeneerPlastis
Fret Count18Peghead BindingN/A
Position Marker6 Pearlette Block Inlay 3,5,7,9,12,15Peghead LogoFrosted Plastic Plate w/ Gold “K” Over Cross Hatch Triangle Insignia, Silver Raised “KAY” and Silver Polka Dots, Clear Plastic Cap
Hardware
TunersGrover Mfd.PickguardFrosted Celluloid Batwing w/ “Barney Kessel” Script Engraved in Raised Gold Lettering. Clear Plastic Cap
Tuners TypeIndividual, Open Back, 2-screws to PegheadPickguard MountTop Screw, Mid-Side Bracket
Machine HeadsCOB ButterbeanKnobsWide Knurled Clear w/ Gold Tint Push-on Hat Style
Tuner BushingsCOB, HexKnob DetailsVolume-Rim has “Volume” and Numbers 1-9 Raised Gold Stamped, Tone-Rim has “Tone” and Numbers 1-9 Raised Gold Stamped
TailpieceCOB Kluson, Hinged Short Trapeze w/ Middle CrossbarSwitch CapN/A
Tailpiece Mount3 Screws To Bottom SideControl PlateN/A
Bridge TypeFloating, 2-piece, Thumbwheel Height Adj.Pickup BezelClear Plastic Over Chromed Plaastic Plate, 4-screws to Top
Bridge DetailCompensatedPickup LocationNeck
Bridge MaterialBrazilian RosewoodPickup Mount2-screws Into Maple Tone Bars, Non-Height Adj.
Bridge SaddlePlasticStrap ButtonWhite Plastic End Pin
Tremolo ArmN/A
Electronics
PickupKay Mfd. Single Coil “Kleenex” Cross Hatch Pattern w/ Plain Slim Oval for Pole PiecesSwitch StampN/A
Pickup DetailPlastic Integrated Cover, Brass Rail Screwed to Bottom Holding Poles Pieces and Mounting Holes, Mounting Holes Unused on this ModelSwitch DetailN/A
Pickup DateN/ACapacitor StampStandard Condensor Corp. Chicago Ill. .1 MFD 200 V.D.C. Made in U.S.A. “Outside Foil” written on polarity black ring
Pickup PolesIndividual Screw Height Adj.Cap Value.1μF
Pickup WiringBody CavityCap Value Actual0.097μF
Pickup Output11.3kΩResistorN/A
PotentiometersCentralabResistor Value ActualN/A
Potentiometer StampVolume-134924 K-600-1, Tone-134924 K-600-2Wire HarnessUnshielded
Potentiometer ValueV-500kΩ?, T-100kΩGround WireTo Tailpiece
Pot Value ActualV-Unknown, T-91.7kΩOutput JackSwitchcraft, Mounted to Lower Bout Side
Catalog Description
1959 Kay 1700S Kessel “Pro” Guitar. Features a comfortable sized body . . . 13” wide. Short scale for fast fingering and easy playing . . . same electronic equipment as the Jezz Special. Semi-solid construction assures “Solid body” ruggedness and “acoustical guitar” response, tone quality . . . light in weight. Flat wire wound strings . . . deluxe hardware . . . hand-crated rosewood bridge. 1701S Single pickup model, shaded with sunburst. 170
Chronologue Legend
Pickups numbering starts from top position. Ex. P1-Neck, P2-Middle, P3-Bridge
Pup – Pickup
UB – Upper-bout, LB – Lower-bout, WB – Waist-bout
Laminate – Pressed layers of wood w/ veneer
Celluloid – Nitrocellulose-based plastics
W/B – Binding alternates White/Black or Black/White depending on count. Ex. 5-ply W/B = W/B/W/B/W
(db) – Double Markers
Pearlette – Plastic resembling natural pearl.
MOP – Authentic mother of pearl
COB – Chrome over brass
CM – Chromed Metal
OAP – Tuners mounted on a metal plate
V/T – Volume/Tone
kΩ – Kiloohms, measuring electric resistance
μF – Microfared, measuring electrical capacitance
Unknown – Electronics – examination would disrupt vintage integrity, or accurate reading is weighted by other components.
Unknown – Wood or hardware – examination would disrupt vintage integrity
N/A – Not Available from manufacturer.
The Chronologue entry is for model inspected only. Similar models may exhibit different specifications.
The Chronologue is for historic reference. Updates to continue.
Maintenance on models not performed unless documented.
The Chronologue is a registered trademark of SLT Vintage